Grinling Gibbons 300, Carving a Place in History, is a year-long nationwide festival, organised by the Grinling Gibbons Society under the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales, celebrating the tercentenary of the death of Britain's finest carver of wood.

Grinling Gibbons: Centuries in the Making Exhibition

3rd August – 27th August 2021
Bonhams, 101 New Bond Street, London W1S 1SR, bonhams.com

25 September 21 – 30 January 2022
Compton Verney, Warwickshire CV35 9HZ
comptonverney.org.uk

Centuries in the Making will explore the influences that shaped Gibbons' vision, skills and technique and the stylistic and cultural influences he brought to this country. Works have been assembled from national museums, regional collections, historic houses and some international lenders, and combined with contemporary artworks.

Through sculpture and carving in wood and stone, drawings and sketches, portraits and documents, Centuries in the Making will bring a new perspective to Gibbons and his legacy.

The exhibition will also examine how Gibbons' bold new direction changed the direction of British carving, sculpture and interiors, and how his extraordinary creative output inspired both his contemporaries and makers across the succeeding 300 years.
The influence of Gibbons will be traced to the present day, with works by contemporary artists and designers, and specially created artworks by top emerging carvers. The work of eleven finalists in the Grinling Gibbons Tercentenary Award for emerging carvers and sculptors will be on display.

The second leg of the exhibition, at Compton Verney, will include some outstanding additional items including a carved wooden horse from the Line of Kings at the Tower of London on loan from the Royal Armouries, and a collection of baroque musical exhibits.

Other events include:

3 August, Sung Evensong, 3pm
A Service of Remembrance for Grinling Gibbons
St Paul’s, Bedford St, Covent Garden London WC2E 9ED (The Actors’ Church)

Led by Rev. Simon Grigg, Rector of St Paul’s
Booking preferred: christina@hemsley.com
The sung service celebrates Gibbons’ life on the anniversary of his burial there three hundred years to the day with a reading by a local, award winning actor. All welcome, but please prebook.

5 August, 6.30pm and 8.30pm - JS Bach solo violin recital by Krysia Osostowicz
St Mary Abchurch, Abchurch Yard, London EC4N 7BA

Sonata no 2 in A minor
Partita no 2 in D minor
Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions)
Book essential: christina@hemsley.com

Violinist Krysia Osostowicz, leader of the Brodsky Quartet, plays two masterpieces composed in 1720 by Johann Sebastian Bach on an Italian instrument of 1720.
Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin have been described as "cathedrals in sound". Their mighty structures and dazzling ornamentation echo the wondrous buildings of Wren and the carvings of Gibbons; and the church's acoustic enhances the sound of Krysia's beautiful Italian violin, made in the year these two were composed.
Bach composed these works following the death of his first wife, exploring in them the heights and depths of human emotion. In the A Minor Sonata, an elaborate fugue is followed by an exquisitely serene, contemplative aria. At the climax of the D Minor Partita, the great Chaconne charts an epic journey through grief, defiance, yearning, acceptance and spiritual enlightenment.

 

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